If your dog is not acting like itself lately, is acting a bit more sluggish, or isn't able to get up as easily and it once could, it could simply be old age or something else may be going on with your dog. You can keep a close eye on your dog and monitor its health to see what else may be going on, and you should take your dog to the veterinarian for a checkup and treatment if needed. Read on for a few things you can do to help your dog.

Watch Your Dog's Food And Water Intake

Keep a close eye on your dog and how much it's eating and drinking. If your dog isn't eating or drinking enough, it could be suffering from dehydration or some other condition. If your dog was outside for an extended period of time in the cold or in the extreme heat, it could also be hypothermia. Watch for output in addition to input. If your dog isn't going to the bathroom at all, dehydration is definitely an issue that requires medical care.

Look For Toxic Ingestion

Keep an eye out to see if your dog ingested anything toxic. If your dog ate anything that it shouldn't have, this may be why your dog is suffering now. If your dog ingested something such as human food that isn't good for it or ate an indoor plant, or some other type of toxin, take note of what your dog ingested and take the information and your dog to the veterinarian for treatment. If you don't see what your dog ingested, you may get a clue from vomit or from diarrhea and feces as well.

Check For Injuries

Check your dog for injuries that it may have suffered, such as bite marks, scrapes, or limping and favoring one paw or another. If you notice any issues such as these, you should talk to your dog's veterinarian about these issues and have your dog x-rayed and treated as necessary.

If your dog isn't acting like itself, it may just be that your dog is getting older or your dog may be suffering from a medical condition of some sort. Take your dog to a local veterinarian for a checkup and any treatment that may be necessary. Take note of your dog's symptoms and other things you may have noticed to help diagnose your dog.